Consultation
Climate Conversations 2023
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Open for submissions from
Submissions closed
Last updated on
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Open for submissions from
Submissions closed
Last updated on
Consultation is closed
The Climate Conversation 2023 is now open. People across the country are invited to have their say on how we can all play our part in securing our sustainable future.
Government, communities, industry and individuals each have a part to play to help Ireland shift to a carbon-neutral future. We want to hear how we, as a government, can engage, enable and empower people to take action and realise the potential of moving towards carbon neutrality.
Becoming a climate resilient society will help us to cope with the impacts of a changing climate and we are committed to achieving this future through a just transition, meaning all voices will be heard in a fair and equal manner, and new opportunities will mean no one is left behind.
An online questionnaire is now open where people can give their views on shopping, reuse and recycling, food and food waste, heating our homes and sustainable living, local environment and climate change. People can also have their say on how actions in these areas – by individuals, Government and society as a whole – can positively impact our climate goals.
Join the Climate Conversation 2023 by filling in our online questionnaire .
You don’t need to be a climate expert for your opinion to be valued, we want to hear from as many people across the country as possible. You might find the Climate Jargon Buster useful as you read through the content and questions.
The closing date for submissions is 5.30pm on Friday, 8 September 2023
If you have any difficulty using the online platform, please get in touch with us at ClimateConversation@decc.gov.ie
The 2020 Programme for Government committed the country to reducing carbon emissions by 51% by 2030 and becoming carbon-neutral no later than 2050. Government must lead by example, and has to deliver new systems, infrastructures, and support stakeholder and enterprise and individual across society in making this transition.
The Climate Conversations are a core component of the annual National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA) programme. In 2021, the first ever Climate Conversations (CC21) were held as part of the NDCA. The CC21 took place with participation from 3,800 members of the public and community groups across Ireland.
The Climate Conversations 2022 built on those discussions through enhanced stakeholder engagement, reaching those not yet engaged in the climate dialogue and populations who are particularly vulnerable to the transition. In 2022 we heard from 4,300 people across Ireland who were engaged through the online consultation.
The Climate Action Plan 2023 commits to strengthening the social contract between the Government and the Irish people around climate action. The Climate Conversation 2023 is a key forum through which people can have their say on climate action, how it affects them, and policies they would like to see implemented. All of this will feed into ongoing work on Climate Action Plan 2024.
The Climate Conversation is being conducted in line with strict data protection rules, and for this reason is open only to those over 16. Under 16s will be consulted through the Comhairle na nÓg network.
We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any individual over 16, group or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. All submissions and feedback will be considered before the final version of the Climate Action Plan 2024 is published.
Please note that responses to this consultation are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI), Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2018 (AIE) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Please also note that we intend to publish the contents of all submissions received to our consultations on our website. We will redact personal data prior to publication. In responding to this consultation, parties should clearly indicate where their responses contain personal information, commercially sensitive information or confidential information which they would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published.
We would like to draw your attention to our Data Privacy Notice which explains how and when we collect personal data, why we do so and how we treat this information. It also explains your rights in relation to the collection of personal information and how you can exercise those rights.
We would also draw your attention to information on how we safeguard respondents aged 16-18 years .